During the Rath Yatra festival, Lord Jagannath and his siblings will shine in new ornaments for Suna Besha, said Law Minister Prithviraj Harichandan.
Shri Harichandan announced that these ornaments will not come from the Ratna Bhandar (temple treasury) but will be specially arranged by the government. Devotees will also be encouraged to donate gold voluntarily.
“If the Lord wills, it will happen,” the minister said, echoing the sanctity of the occasion.
Some servitors have reported that a few existing ornaments are either worn thin or missing, which prompted the proposal for new ornaments during the Chhatisha Nijog meeting attended by the Chief Minister.
In parallel, there is a strong possibility of gem assessment and inventory in August. A high-level decision will follow discussions. The minister added that the RBI will be requested to provide two expert appraisers with experience in assessing temple valuables. A new secure locker (sinduka) has already been prepared for storing the ornaments post-assessment.
The upcoming Suna Besha and potential gem inventory have raised expectations among devotees and heritage custodians alike.
